IN recognition of her services to music and 2. of the work she has done to keep music alive since the war started Dame Myra Hess received the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society from the hands of Dr. Vaughan Williams last Saturday, who himself is a holder of the medal. The occasion was the fourth concert of the winter season given by the Royal Philharmonic Society with Sir Adrian 'Rauh conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra in works by Mozart. Brahms and Beethoven, Dame Myra Hess played Beethoven's fourth concerto, one of the composer's most beautifully proportioned works, and an audience of six thousand acclaimed her at • the conclusion.
The " Haffner " Symphony in the hands of Sir Adrian Boult was meticulous Mozart and the Brahms No. I was scholarly and analytical very much in the Boult tradition.
Royal Albert Hall
Madagascar Missions
The Missionary Catechists or Mary Immaculate have reported, in the Annales de Marie Inonaculee, good news of all the Sisters of their Congregation who are working in the Missions.
" In Madagascar the schools and eatechedeal instruction are continuing; the little dispensary is flourishing," the periodical states. " The Governor General is to give us some cultivated land at Imarimandroso and we shall be better able to take care of the children. Mother Blandini is to have free airplane passage, and thus will be able to visit our Sisters-in-Religion at Ambilohe."
The Sisters report, it is stated, that they have been obliged to impose restrictions on themselves since they no longer receive aid from Europe. "However, we are not suffering," they report. " Life is normal and the apostolate is continuing. There is much work and few Sisters. Some severe illnesses, some very successful operations, very little news from our families, but we are remaining at our posts in all sections."